Learn more about Bohuslav Matej Cernohorsky

Bohuslav Matej Cernohorsky  (1684, Nymburk, Bohemia – 1742, Graz, Austria) was a Czech composer, organist and teacher of the baroque era. He wrote among other works motets, other choral works (a fugue Laudetur Jesus Christus is cited by the Baroque Music Library as an excellent example of its kind) and organ solo works.

Life

He was a son of a Nymburk cantor named Samuel Cernohorsky. From 1700 to 1702 he studied philosophy at the Prague university. In 1704 Cernohorsky became a member of the Conventual Franciscan; later, in 1708 he was ordained as a priest. Nevertheless, in 1710 Cernohorsky was expelled from Czech lands for ten years, and he left for Assisi, Italy. From 1710 to 1715 he worked as an organist in the Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi, and probably studied counterpoint with Giuseppe Tartini. He was called “Padre Boemo” in Italy. After the expiration of his punishment, he came back to Prague, where he devoted himself to teaching. Among the important pupils of the “Cernohorsky school” are Josef Seger, Frantisek Tuma and others. In 1731 he came to Italy again, and worked as an organist in Padua. Cernohorsky died in Graz in 1742. He is an ancestor of Canadian composer Peter Cernohorsky.

According to the biography at Arta.cz below, he officiated at the wedding of his colleague Simon Brixi, father of Frantisek Xaver Brixi.

Style

Cernohorsky was an important representative of the late baroque style. He composed fugues and toccatas for organ, as well as vocal works. He deeply influenced the musical evolution in Czech as a composer, as well as a teacher.

Selected works

Vesperae Minus Solemnes (1702–1710) for choir, two violins and organ

Regina Coeli (1712), antifone for double choir

Laudetur Jesus Christus (1729) for soprano, alt, tenor, bass, strings and organ

Precatus est Moyses

Quare Domine Irasceris both for soprano, alt, tenor, bass, two violins, viola, three trumpets and organ